Penumbra Submissions

I don't always like doing a set theme but I can do it.

As has been said already this one is open enough to be able to get all types of ideas within the frame of their theme.

But one good thing, I can always send the gaslight story to BCS after Penumbra gets done with it.

So let's all try writing down a first sentence on Family Traditions and see where it goes.

Ishmael has a good point there.

I do like working to themes or prompts or whatever, and I admit the moment Ishmael said that... a first sentence popped into my head haha.

Alas, it comes burdened with much research, so I'll have to see if I've the time for that side of it.

Well I did it! I decided to join the fun and submitted a story to the Family Traditions issue. I've tried to write to Penumbra's themes before but each time the word count spiraled out of control well past their word count. But not this time. <img src="

Good for you. I'm still tying myself in knots with my effort at that topic.

I am a bit behind here.

I just write my gaslight fantasy story. But I have until the 31st.

As to Family Traditions?

I will see if I happen to have a story already done that might fit what they want. Or see if my muse takes a liking to their theme.

Thank you for your submission to the Alfred Hitchcock issue of Penumbra. While I enjoyed your story, it did not make it through to the next round in the evaluation process.

So, yeah, I'm out. I sort of expected it. This was a tough theme. Anyone else hanging in there?

Good luck!

Now, on to Gaslight Fantasy. Yikes!

Thank you for your submission to the Alfred Hitchcock issue of Penumbra. While I enjoyed your story, it did not make it through to the next round in the evaluation process.

So, yeah, I'm out. I sort of expected it. This was a tough theme. Anyone else hanging in there?

Good luck!

Now, on to Gaslight Fantasy. Yikes!

Good, I'm not the only one to be last minute with this.

I amazed myself by finally grinding out Family Traditions and hitting the word target for the second time in a row. Guess what? I like it. I have little or no idea if it's any good, so if anyone wants to exchange for it, please PM me.

I just received a duplicate of the last round rejection that I got at this time last month. Despite telling me again that I'd just missed out on the Fae issue, this one had Hitchcock in the title line. I suppose that the word 'Fae' is a glitch and I've just missed out on the Hitchcock issue too. It would seem that I was wrong in supposing last month's rejection to be personal.

If so, this leaves me with a problem of what, if anything, else I can do with my Hitchcock story. It is a very obvious Hitchcock pastiche and can hardly fail to be recognised as a Penumbra reject by any editor that I send it to. On the other hand it is definitely one of my best ever 3,500's.

If anyone has any helpful thoughts, I'd be glad to hear them.

Sent in my Gaslight Fantasy.

When they say no, I will send it to BCS.

And now I want to write another story about my MC in that one.

Sent in my Gaslight Fantasy.

When they say no, I will send it to BCS.

And now I want to write another story about my MC in that one.

Good luck, LD. I just finished my first draft. I'm pretty happy with it. Just need to polish it up. I still have what...9 days. Plenty of time for a real good polishing.

Sent in my Gaslight Fantasy.

When they say no, I will send it to BCS.

And now I want to write another story about my MC in that one.

Good luck, LD. I just finished my first draft. I'm pretty happy with it. Just need to polish it up. I still have what...9 days. Plenty of time for a real good polishing.

Yep, you still can go for it.

Sent in my Gaslamp story. I had such good luck slipping under the word count for the family traditions issue, I tried & was pleasantly surprised to do so for the Gaslamp call. Glad to have joined the fun. Waiting on Penumbra feels like the teaser fights leading up to the main match (WotF).

I'm in too. Now, on to family traditions.

I've been waiting for them to post the calls for next year. (It's got to be soon, right?!) The last few themes haven't really appealed to me, personally.

Good luck to everyone who's submitting!

I asked for clarification of my final round rejection for what seemed like the wrong edition, as noted above on 11 August. Still no reply. Neither have I any word on the fate of my gaslight story, submitted 30 July. I wonder if I have done something to annoy them? Anyway, since I did like my Family story, I've submitted it regardless.

Neither have I any word on the fate of my gaslight story, submitted 30 July.

The call for Gaslight ends August 31. Do you expect hear something before that? I know they used to respond after an initial scan, usually around the 2 week mark, but I don't know if they still do that. I submitted my Family Traditions story on Aug 2 & haven't heard anything from them. It's the end of summer ... vacation, maybe?

The call for Gaslight ends August 31. Do you expect hear something before that? I know they used to respond after an initial scan, usually around the 2 week mark, but I don't know if they still do that. I submitted my Family Traditions story on Aug 2 & haven't heard anything from them. It's the end of summer ... vacation, maybe?

You may be right. I was just going on my recent experience. My Lost edition submission received a same day rejection. I heard that my Fae edition story had been moved to the second round eight days after submitting. I got the same news about my Hitchcock story one day after submitting. All of these notifications arrived before the submissions deadline expired.

It is however a relief to know that I am not alone. Summer holidays sounds a perfectly good explanation.

Seems like my last submission, which might have been my only one, was returned in a week or so but whatever the case it was before the deadline. Or right after. I think I sent it in at the last moment.

I've been waiting for them to post the calls for next year. (It's got to be soon, right?!) The last few themes haven't really appealed to me, personally.

Good luck to everyone who's submitting!

Hey Austin (and all interested parties)
Penumbra has released next year's themes, which include things like "winter" "pain" "Isaac Asimov" "Egyptian Mythology" "Isolation" "hyperspeed" "aliens" and much more. Looks like some fun topics. The next after Family Traditions is "winter." I have a few things in mind already.
Good luck!

I've been waiting for them to post the calls for next year. (It's got to be soon, right?!) The last few themes haven't really appealed to me, personally.

Good luck to everyone who's submitting!

Hey Austin (and all interested parties)
Penumbra has released next year's themes, which include things like "winter" "pain" "Isaac Asimov" "Egyptian Mythology" "Isolation" "hyperspeed" "aliens" and much more. Looks like some fun topics. The next after Family Traditions is "winter." I have a few things in mind already.
Good luck!

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up, Preston!

Thanks, Preston!

There's some interesting themes in there. Hmm.

Heard on the GasLamp story--form reject. Now that issue on Asimov looks interesting ...

Actually, next year they have a lot of intriguing themes.

I agree Asimov's is one but I would have to reread some of his to get his style again and see which story would inspire me. I would like to but we shall see.

As is the horror one. I don't do horror but I like the challenge they put out for it.

The Lewis Carroll theme sounds good too.

And a couple of others.

Gaslamp story rejected.

Nothing for me but I probably will have heard something when I get form work tomorrow.

I've been waiting for them to post the calls for next year. (It's got to be soon, right?!) The last few themes haven't really appealed to me, personally.

Good luck to everyone who's submitting!

Hey Austin (and all interested parties)
Penumbra has released next year's themes, which include things like "winter" "pain" "Isaac Asimov" "Egyptian Mythology" "Isolation" "hyperspeed" "aliens" and much more. Looks like some fun topics. The next after Family Traditions is "winter." I have a few things in mind already.
Good luck!

Hey Preston. Where'd you find the info about Penumbra? I visited their site and all I could find was a check back later message.
I'd like to try to write some of the themes you mention, sounds like fun.
Any information would be a big help, thanks.

It's http://penumbraezine.blogspot.co.uk/p/submissions.html

That has the last of this year and the whole of next.

Thank you for the link Ishmael.
I hadn't been to that site before so there must be more than one Penumbra.

I'm in for Family Traditions.

Good luck to everyone else who got a story in or is hoping to get one in before the deadline in 24 days or so!